Writing style and writing tone

are often used interchangeably

in writing discussions; however,
they are different aspects of
writing. Understanding the
difference can help our writing
achieve its purpose and be clear
to our audience.
 STYLE
 Every author has his or her own style – that
is, each author uses literary devices, tone, and
mood in a particular way that makes his or
her writing recognizable.
 When you read several books by the same
author, you become accustomed to the
author’s style of writing and sometimes you
look for authors with a similar style.
STYLE is the way the author uses words, phrases,
and sentences.

The author’s
1) personal word choice/vocabulary,
2) types of sentences,
3) point of view from which the text is told,
4) organization of the text.

These 4 components will reveal his/her style.

So, when analyzing an author’s style, we
need to consider:
 point-of-view,
 formal or informal writing,
 organization/structure of text,
 level of complexity in the writing,
By using these features in writing, different
meanings of the content (what the
story/text is about) are shown to the
audience.
 Style: Which Point of View?
First person: (I, me, my)
I went to the store today. When I was in the cereal aisle, I bumped into an old
friend and had a nice conversation.

Second person: (you; instructions/directions)

You should work on getting your room cleaned. First, pick up the clothes on
the floor. Then, you need to run a vacuum and dust the tables.

Third person – limited: (he/she/it/they/them told thru 1 character)

He could tell from the expression on her face that what he had said upset her.
If only he knew, though, what she was really thinking.

Third-person Omniscient (‘all knowing’):

(he/she/it/they/them told by the author; all characters’
feelings/thoughts are revealed)
She refused to look at Jamie again and instead stared at the statue.
“Come on!” exclaimed Jamie impatiently. “It’s time to go.”

Sara ignored Jamie and continued to gaze upon the statue wishing she,
too, could be so still and at peace.
 Style: Formal vs. Informal
Formal:
Dear Sir,
After examining your job description, I feel I am an
excellent candidate. I have many years of experience
performing these specific duties. My résumé is attached.
Please read it over at your convenience and contact
me if you have questions.

Sincerely,
Andrew Meyer
Informal:
Hey, Sara! What's going on tonight? Call me before
you guys leave, okay?
--Beth
Formal Informal

Vocabulary: high-level; Vocabulary – low-level;

business-like perhaps slang; dialogue

Organization of text: very Organization of text –

structured; perhaps with more so narrative or
subtopics note-like

Audience – usually 3rd- Audience – usually

omnisicient (except for personal (more first or
business letters) third-limited)

Sentences: structure varies Sentences – don’t vary as

(s/cd/cx) much in structure;
mostly simple or
compound sentences
 STYLE: Organization of Text

Writing is organized in various

ways, depending upon the
author’s purpose: to inform, to
entertain, to express a
belief/opinion, to persuade.
Text usually falls within one of these types of
organizational patterns:

1. Cause - Effect
2. Problem – Solution
3. Chronological (sequencing the order of events)
4. Compare/Contrast
5. Inductive (specific to general)
6. Deductive (general to specific)
7. Division into categories
8. Ranking (i.e., “most __” to “least ___”)
Can you predict which would be writing patterns for
giving information? For entertaining? For expressing
an opinion? For persuading someone to believe as you
do?
 Style: Level of Complexity
 Does the author use mostly simple sentence structure or
varies the sentence structures (simple, compound, complex
sentences)?
 Is it simple vocabulary or higher-level word choices?
 What types of writing devices does the author use? Does
the author use dialogue? Figurative Language (similes,
metaphors, onomatopoeia, personification, symbolism)?
Flashbacks? Foreshadowing? Irony?
 What about the level of detail? Is the writing very
descriptive (in describing characters, settings,
actions/events)? Does it become TOO detailed? TOO
‘wordy?’ Too ‘flowery?’ So many events in the plot that the
story becomes TOO confusing or “convoluted?” Or, is the
level of detail – as Baby Bear would say, “Just right” -- to
visualize the images, to understand the concepts, to build
suspense???
so when analyzing style, you must
look at a piece of writing FROM
the overall structure of the text
TO the small details and word
choices. Be an editor, a critic, to
answer the question: how would
I describe this author’s writing
style?
NEXT SLIDE: A SELECTION
 “A Gift in His Shoes”
Donovan and Larry were early for baseball
practice. They decided to run up and down the
bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team
arrived.
Larry was first to the top. He whispered to
Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man
sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the
bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and
too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of
a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a
few feet away.
Donovan whispered, “We should help him out.
Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when
he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”
 Style: “A Gift in His Shoes”
How would you describe the writing style of this
author?
a. Formal
b. Conversational
c. Businesslike

Point of View: third-omniscient

Word choices: “scraped-up,” “one big toe stuck
out”
Use of dialogue between characters
NEXT SLIDE: A SELECTION
 “Where Can They Stay?”
About three million people have to look for a
place to sleep at night. Some homeless people have
jobs but do not earn nearly enough money for both
food and shelter. Some become homeless because
they have an unfortunate accident or lose their job.
They do not have any back-up resources to make it
through the hard times.
The homeless face terrible problems. Many
become victims of violence. Serious health problems
may begin because they are exposed to bad
weather and unclean conditions. Homeless children
may miss the chance to go to school. Worst of all,
some cities pass laws that make it even harder on
the homeless.
 Style: “Where Can They Stay”
How would you describe the writing style of this
author?

a. Formal
b. Conversational
c. Businesslike

Point of View: 3rd omniscient

Organizational structure: cause-effect
Word choices: “unfortunate,” “resources”
There may be as many styles as
there are writers. Think about
your favorite authors? Why do
you like their books? Is it
because of their style of writing?
. . . And so, how would you
describe their style of writing?
Next slide>> TONE
 TONE
TONE is simply the author’s attitude toward
the subject.
You can recognize the tone/attitude by the
language/word choices the author uses. His
language will reveal his perspective/opinion
(that is, whether it is positive/negative)
about the subject.
Tone must be inferred through the use of
descriptive words.
 Tone is the mood or feeling of a
writer that comes across in what he
or she writes. For example, if you
can tell that a writer was angry
when he wrote something, the
writing has an angry tone. If you can
tell that a writer was trying to be
nice when she wrote something, the
writing has a friendly tone.
Example of a sentence with an angry
tone:
 You'd better not park your car here
anymore, or I'll call the police and have
you ticketed.
Example of a sentence with a formal,
respectful tone:
 Please park in parking space number 12.
The spot you're in is reserved for another
resident. Thanks.
NEXT SLIDE: A SELECTION
 The girls were playing in the pond,
splashing each other and trying to catch
fish with their hands. They were having
fun, but kept looking over their shoulders
at the looming forest. The long grass of the
field kept moving and they sort of felt like
they were being watched… About a half
hour passed and still the girls kept checking
the field for movements. It seemed like a
pair of dark eyes was on them. They even
considered going back inside, but that
would mean homework time. So they
continued splashing, but with caution now.
Their eyes hardly left the field.
The tone of this passage is
ominous, suggesting a little bit
of fear,
foreboding(foreshadowing
evil)or threatening. Words like
"caution, dark, and looming”
lead readers to the tone.

NEXT SLIDE: CONT. OF THE SELECTION

 Finally, one of the girls pointed
to the grass and giggled. "Meow!"
A cat sat on the edge of the field
and licked its paw. They did
indeed have company. The girls
ran over to the cat and pet his
belly. They laughed and the cat
sauntered back to the field.
The tone of this passage is
happy/contentment as there
was a successful, happy
resolution to the problem.
 Identifying the TONE is all
about knowing the definitions
of many descriptive
vocabulary words. Without
this large vocabulary, it’s
difficult to describe outside of
“good” and “bad.”
NEXT SLIDE: A SELECTION
 “A Gift in His Shoes”
Donovan and Larry were early for baseball
practice. They decided to run up and down the
bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team
arrived.
Larry was first to the top. He whispered to
Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man
sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the
bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn,
and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck
out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes
sat a few feet away.
Donovan whispered, “We should help him out.
Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when
he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”
 Tone: “A Gift in His Shoes”
How would you describe the tone
[attitude] of this author?
a. Angry
b. Detached
c. Sympathetic
Evidence?
“We should help him out”
NEXT SLIDE: A SELECTION
 “Where Can They Stay?”
About three million people have to look for a
place to sleep at night. Some homeless people
have jobs but do not earn nearly enough money
for both food and shelter. Some become homeless
because they have an unfortunate accident or lose
their job. They do not have any back-up resources
to make it through the hard times.
The homeless face terrible problems. Many
become victims of violence. Serious health
problems may begin because they are exposed to
bad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless
children may miss the chance to go to school.
Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make it
even harder on the homeless.
 Tone: “Where Can They Stay”
How would you describe the tone
[attitude] of this author?
a. Disgruntled(discontented)
b. Nonchalant(unconcerned)
c. Serious
 TO SUM IT UP
STYLE is….
TONE is….